ST JAMES, Jamaica — Aimed at fostering sustainable farming and agricultural growth while engaging the youth in the process, the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) says it is proud to announce its successful second ‘Farm to Table’ experience for high school students.

The initiative kicked off with a site visit to the Jamaica Christian School for the Deaf on Wednesday, October 25. Working in collaboration with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), the chamber’s director, Dr Sherridene Lee, led the visit to support the school’s execution plans for its own farm.

According to a news release, the programme continued with an enriching day on October 27 for all participating schools with 30 students. It began with a tour of RADA, where attendees learned about RADA’s pioneering e-commerce platform, Agrilinkages Exchange (ALEX). Following this, the group visited the Half Moon Hotel, where they explored the farm and were warmly hosted for a lunch to conclude the day.

“The Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce recognises the significance of nurturing sustainable farming practices and agricultural growth. Through these initiatives, the Chamber is dedicated to creating awareness and exposure for students, with the goal of making agriculture a viable and attractive career choice,” the release read in part.

Students from Jamaica Christian School for the Deaf, Knockalva Polytechnic College, Montego Bay Community College and Spot Valley High School participated in the day’s activities. The teachers from the schools expressed appreciation for the workshop and commented that “the experience was indeed informative and the exposure will act as an important point of inspiration to the students.”

“Change is never easy, but it requires action and adaptability,” Nadine Spence, Director and Committee Chair of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce said. “Our communities can only flourish with our active involvement and investment. Service truly matters.”